India becomes first country to make entire Haj process digital

India has become the first country to make the entire process for pilgrims going on Haj completely digital.

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi yesterday said this after signing the bilateral agreement for next year's pilgrimage with the Saudi Haj Minister in Jeddah.  Mr Naqvi said, an online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, 'e-MASIHA' health facility, "e-luggage pre-tagging" providing all information in India itself regarding accommodation and transportation in Mecca and Madina will be provided to 2 lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj in 2020. 

The minister signed the bilateral annual Haj 2020 agreement between India and Saudi Arabia with Haj and Umrah Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten. He said, for the first time facilities were provided for digital pre-tagging of pilgrims' baggage. 

This will ensure the Indian pilgrims will get information in India itself about the building and the room allotted to them as well as the



transportation details for travel after reaching the airport in Saudi Arabia. 

This year, a 100-line information centre has been established at the Haj House, Mumbai for providing information regarding the entire Haj process. The minister said,  E-MASIHA (E-Medical Assistance System for Indian Pilgrims Abroad), an online system to create and maintain the complete health database of Indian pilgrims along with doctors' preions, medical treatment as well as medicine disbursal, has been developed to deal with any emergency in Mecca and Madina.  The Minister said,  Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) have also been connected with 100 per cent digital system which has ensured transparency in their functioning and has also ensured better facilities to Indian Haj pilgrims. 

A portal of HGOs-http://haj.nic.in/pto/ (Portal for Haj Group Organisers) has been developed which contains all the details of HGOs and their packages.